Czech Footballer of Year Petr Cech already looking forward to summer World Cup

The Czech Republic and Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has just been named
Czech Footballer of the Year for the first time. The award is the latest
in a very impressive series of records and other achievements for Cech,
who is still only 23. Like the rest of the Czech squad he is currently in
Prague preparing for a friendly against Turkey on Wednesday. Before the
game, and before Monday's Footballer of the Year awards, I asked Petr Cech
how much - with three months till kick-off - this summer's World Cup is on
his mind.

Petr Cech, photo: CTK"You know with this atmosphere here and with people asking us around
the World Cup - and even between us we are talking about it - because this
is one of the last official friendly games before the preparation and
before the tournament so you've got this in your mind."

It looks like Pavel Nedved is going to go. It's not really official but he
seems to be going to the World Cup. What difference do you think his
presence will make to Czech chances of doing well?

"He really helped us during the play-offs against Norway and he's a
quality player, so it will make a difference, I'm sure. I'm happy that
he's coming."

In your group [for the World Cup] you have the USA, Ghana and Italy.
People have reacted differently to that draw, some say it's not so hard,
others say it's pretty difficult - what's your attitude to that group, in
terms of how hard it'll be for the Czech Republic to get out of it?

"I think it's one of the hardest groups, because Ghana have made big
progress in recent years, and they are one of the strongest teams in
Africa. That's why they are a very difficult opponent.

"And in the USA you can see again the boom in football, we've been
there with Chelsea the last two years in pre-season, and the people are
really hungry for football now and the national team is playing very well.
They've got a lot of experienced players in Europe, that's why they will be
dangerous."

In the last few years there has been a lot of debate about club versus
country, and the clubs have been getting stronger. For you what would mean
more, to win the World Cup with the Czech Republic or to win the Champions
League with Chelsea?

"I would say if you mean just this year, it's difficult to
choose...of course the World Cup is once every four years and the
Champions League can be every year, so if you ask me at this stage I would
say the World Cup."

What about your shoulder, I know you've had some problems with it - are
you going to wait till after the World Cup and then have some kind of
operation or some kind of treatment?

"The shoulder is now quite OK, so I can train, I can play, that's the
most important thing. If something has to happen then it will definitely be
later, but as I say maybe nothing is needed at the moment. As I say, I can
train, I can play, so that's good...news for me."